January 1 was more than just the start of a new year for USP in 2018. It was the implementation date of two new standards designed to safeguard the global drug supply from potentially toxic impurities – mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and lead, for example.

For patients needing a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, successful treatment often depends on finding a viable transplant sample with the right amount of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to rebuild the patient’s immune system.

The quality of medicine and how it’s delivered to patients is fundamental to treating illness and maintaining health. At USP, we help build a safety net across the drug industry and healthcare system to preserve the well-being of patients.

Access to medicines is a complicated topic. It’s shaped by scientific factors, manufacturing processes, regulatory requirements (including expectations for quality), purchasing practices, health insurance coverage and benefits, healthcare practitioners and numerous other complex realities. What we have learned is that real progress happens when stakeholders work together to develop solutions.

Imagine using software on your phone or tablet to treat health conditions that, until now, could only be treated with medications. Now stop imagining, because for some conditions, such as attention deficit disorder and substance dependency, it is already a reality.

USP was founded nearly 200 years ago by eleven doctors who wanted to ensure that the nation had access to quality medicines. They put together the first pharmacopeia, a book of recipes for making tinctures, extracts, and other medicines.